Aris Christofellis, sopranist: Quel Usignuolo

Aris Christofellis, sopranist. Quel usginuolo (a nightingale-style aria). Genimniani Giacomulli (1692-1740). Aria for the role of Epidide (sung by Farinelli), from the opera Merope, with libretto by Apostolo Zeno and Domenico Lalli, Venice, 1734. It has been said that, after Farinelli became the primary advisor to the king of Spain, he was asked to sing this aria many times (some say every evening) for the king. Apparently, Farinelli varied the ornamentation and cadenzas every time that he sang it. This is the most famous of the nightingale arias, imitating the famously vocal bird. The male nightingale is the singer. The song, loud, varied, melodious, may be continued for several hours, both day and by night. Quel usignuolo che innamorato se canta solo tra fronda e fronda spiega del fato la crudelta. Sode pietoso nel bosco ombroso chi gli risponde, di ramo in ramo con lieto core cantando va. That nightingale who, enamoured, Sings alone among the leaves, Proclaims the cruelty of fate. If in the shady wood he hears a sympathetic Answering call, from branch to branch With happy heart he sings away.